France may not have invented football, but it was often the source of its major competitions. After the World Cup created by Jules Rimet in 1930, then the European Cup of clubs, born in 1955 from the imagination of Gabriel Hanot then journalist at The team, it’s Henri Delaunay’s dream come true in July 1960.
In 1927, the leader of the French Football Federation (FFF) imagined copying South America and its Copa America, with a tournament bringing together the best European teams. But this Jean Monnet of football died in 1955. His son Pierre took over and accomplished his project with the support of the very young European confederation, UEFA.
As always at the beginning, the British snub the meeting of this European Cup of Nations (which became European Championship of Nations in 1968) and are imitated by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Italy and the Sweden. After qualifications bringing together 17 countries, the tournament brought together, from July 6 to 10, 1960, the four qualified teams. France is organizing this first final phase which leans to the east, with the presence of Czechoslovakia, the USSR and Yugoslavia.
Logistical matter, everything is not yet perfect. Thus, the Yugoslavs wait in vain for the bus of the organization which must collect them at the Gare de Lyon after a twenty-eight hour journey. Finally, they reach their hotel on foot. Three days later, the legs are still a little heavy against the Blues in a half-full Parc des Princes.
Lamia, ideal guardian and culprit
Despite the absence of Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa (injured), the French lead 4-2 after fifty-two minutes thanks to goals from Jean Vincent, Maryan Wisniewski and a double from François Heutte. On his second achievement, the attacker thinks he is out of the game by a few meters, rightly, and stops his action. But a photographer posted behind the cages, seeing that the referee lets him play, enjoins the attacker to continue : “Mark François, mark! " And Heutte does it.
But these Blues (in red that night) kept the versatility of their Swedish summer two years earlier, when they finished third in the World Cup after a feast of goals scored but also conceded. Between the 75e and the 79e, a black hole absorbs the players of Albert Batteux. Tomislav Knez and Drazen Jerkovic (twice) panic the scoreboard and bring the final score at 5-4 for Yugoslavia. The French coach does not understand. " At 4-2, I would have bet my fortune that we would play the final ", he said after the meeting.
In such cases, the warden often makes a good culprit. Little inspired on the last three goals, Georges Lamia did not escape the media trial. Journalist Jacques Ferran plays prosecutors in France Football : "On Wednesday, Lamia didn't make a mistake or two or three, he made the mistake of being there. "
Three days later, the Nice goalkeeper watches his teammates sink from the bench to face Czechoslovakia (2-0) in an almost deserted Stade-Vélodrome in Marseille. In the middle of the Tour de France, the newborn of European football often cried in a vacuum. The next day, the USSR dominated Yugoslavia (2-1) in the final ahead of just 18,000 people at the Park. The Blues are starting a long hibernation and will wait until 1984 to lift the Henri-Delaunay Cup.
